20 Ways to Screw Up Your Management Career

 

 

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20 Ways to Screw Up Your Management Career

via The Corner Office by Steve Tobak on 12/10/09

Don't think for a minute that you're not in complete control of how far you go and how successful you are in your career. I've seen dozens of brilliant, competent, and driven managers shoot themselves in the foot. Here are 20 ways to destroy or stunt a promising management career. 1. Stop asking questions. Think or act like you know it all. Think you can stop learning. 2. Take it personally. Business is about business. Conflict over business, products, and services is healthy and good. It’s not about you. 3. Micromanage. The converse - being too hands off - can be just as bad. 4. Distance yourself from employees. Think you’re above “management by walking around.” 5. Distance yourself from customers. Take your eye off the ball … the ball that matters most. 6. Play it safe. Success means growth, growth means taking risks - analytical, not frivolous, though. 7. Test moral, ethical, or legal limits. Slippery slope. 8. Hire yes-men (or women) you can control. Even worse, be a yes-man thinking it’ll get you places. 9. Overpromise and under-deliver. Success is all about results. 10. Engage your mouth before your brain. More people screw up by talking than any other way. 11. Stick to your guns. Commitment and focus are critical, but inflexibility in the face of internal or external change makes you a dinosaur. 12. Work beneath your capability. Your reach should always exceed your grasp. 13. Ignore what the market is telling you. Think you know better than what customers tell you. Then there’s the reverse problem: 14. Ignore your gut instincts. 15. Fight too many battles on too many fronts. 16. Coast. Driven people don’t coast well. 17. Focus solely on your own little world. Silo mentality is dysfunctional, bigtime. 18. Become big and bloated. Grow your domain for its own sake. 19. Lose your sense of humor and humility. 20. Let your inner child reign. Nothing will kill your career faster than failing to act like an adult.